UN General Assembly Action Needed on Myanmar

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH

Widad Franco
UN Coordinator
@widadfranco

Demonstrators pose with a banner showing the symbolic three-finger salute and names of those killed during protests since the military coup, Yangon, Myanmar on April 11, 2021. © 2021 AP Photo

The United Nations Security Council, entrusted by the UN Charter to be the world’s guardian of international peace and security, has done little to help the people of Myanmar besides issuing statements asking the junta to end the violence and release prisoners. But the UN General Assembly can help motivate the council take action to stem the rampant abuses.

In the absence of robust Security Council action, the 193-nation General Assembly should adopt a resolution condemning the junta’s rights violations and calling on all UN members to halt arms transfers to Myanmar. While not legally binding on states, such a resolution would carry significant political weight. As the UN’s most representative body, it would send a powerful signal to the junta and press members of the Security Council to adopt a legally binding resolution – as recently urged by a group of 205 nongovernmental organizations, including Human Rights Watch.

Home Ministry: Don’t make demands, Rohingya groups here illegal and can face action

malaymail  

Thursday, 30 Apr 2020
BY IDA LIM

Rohingya refugees are seen at a Rohingya settlement in Bandar Baru Sentul, Kuala Lumpur April 24, 2020. — Picture Hari Anggara

KUALA LUMPUR, April 30 — Any organisations representing the Rohingya community in Malaysia are invalid by law and will face government action as the Registrar of Societies had never registered any such organisations, the Home Ministry insisted today.

It also reiterated that Malaysia does not recognise the community as refugees but merely “illegal immigrants”, even if they hold the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) identification cards, and therefore have no rights to make demands to Putrajaya.

Myanmar needs to take action: Miller

The Daily Star

September 04, 2019

Unb, Dhaka

US ambassador Earl R Miller takes a walk through Sylhet’s Keane Bridge, accompanied by Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury and other officials. Photo: Collected

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl R Miller yesterday said Myanmar needs to take action so that Rohingyas can return to their homeland.

Myanmar must create the conditions on the ground so that all Rohingyas can return to their home in a safe, dignified manner, he said.

Canada urged to take international legal action on Rohingya genocide

CKPGToday.ca

By Canadian Press

Jun 27, 2019

 

OTTAWA — The Trudeau government is facing mounting pressure from across the country to take more international action to hold Myanmar to account for the genocide of the Rohingya people.

Thirty-four senators and more than 100 human-rights organizations and advocates sent a joint letter to Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland this week urging Canada to initiate proceedings before the International Court of Justice for breaching the United Nations convention against genocide.

Rohingya Crisis: Bangladesh Takes Actions Positively to Resolve it

MENAFN

 Date 4/17/2019 

(MENAFN - Daily Outlook Afghanistan) Rohingya people are one of the minority groups suffering the most severe oppressions in the world. Rohingya people refer to the stateless group, who are India-Aryan race not accepted by the Myanmar Government, live in Rakhine State of Myanmar, and believe in the Islam. Rohingya people are generally called as 'Bengali by Myanmar government and the public, meaning that they are Bengalese. In 1977, Myanmar President Ne Win, Myanmar Immigration Office and military troops joined hands to carry out 'Operation Nagamin.

EU to propose action at UNHRC session

The Daily Star

February 25, 2019

Star file photo of Rohingya refugees arriving in Bangladesh from Myanmar. 

The European Union is likely to propose specific actions against Myanmar over the Rohingya crisis during the 40th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

“The EU might seek steps against Myanmar top military officials for human rights violations in line with recommendations made by the UN Fact Finding Mission,” said a Bangladeshi diplomat in Geneva where the session would begin today.